Beverage dispensing machine with cup dispenser

ABSTRACT

A cup dispensing system in an automated dispensing beverage dispensing system receives a first supply of cups at a first dispensing assembly with a first selective release device and receives a second supply of cups at a second dispensing assembly with a second selective release device. The first and second dispensing assemblies respectively coincide with first and second indexed locations on a cup conveyance system. The cup dispensing system operates to dispense a first cup from the first dispensing assembly to the first indexed location and a second cup from the second dispensing assembly to the second indexed location.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The application claims priority of US Provisional Patent Application No.63/277,359, filed on Nov. 9, 2021, the contents of which is hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to beverage dispensing systems. Moreparticularly, the present disclosure relates to automated beveragedispensing systems for automatically selecting and placing a cup,dispensing a beverage into the cup, and staging filled cups for deliveryto a customer.

Automated beverage dispensing systems are known in the fields of fastand quick service restaurants. Automated beverage dispensing systemsautomate, or partially automate the act of filling cups with beveragesto fulfill customer orders.

Examples of automated beverage dispensing systems are disclosed in thefollowing patent references, which are hereby each incorporated byreference herein in their entireties:

U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,279,652; 4,418,837; 4,426,017; and 5,518,149 alldisclose examples of cup dispensing devices.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,045,323; 9,290,371; 9,944,472; 10,239,742; and10,689,241 all disclose linear configurations for transport of cups forloading, filling, and/or staging by a beverage machine.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,053,359; 6,102,246; and 10,689,240 disclosecarousel-style configurations for transport of cups for loading,filling, and/or staging by a beverage machine.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,669,732; 8,225,960; 9,204,734; 9,656,849; 10,515,327;U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020/0273283; and U.S. PatentApplication No. 17/493,257 all disclose other features which may beincorporated into examples of beverage dispensing machine as disclosedin further detail herein.

BRIEF DISCLOSURE

In an example of an automated beverage dispensing machine having a frontand a back and a first side opposite a second side, a conveyance systemdefines a plurality of cup locations and operates to sequentially movethe plurality of cup locations through a plurality of indexed locations.A cup dispensing machine is configured to receive a supply of cups. Thecup dispensing machine is operable to dispense a cup to a cup loadinglocation that coincides with an indexed location of the plurality ofindexed locations. A beverage dispensing machine is configured todispense a beverage at a beverage dispense location of the plurality ofindexed locations. A computer associates an ordered beverage to a cuplocation of the plurality of cup locations. The computer maintains arecord of a status of the cup location and the position of the cuplocation relative to the plurality of indexed locations.

An example of an automated beverage dispensing machine includes a frontand a back and a first side opposite a second side. A conveyance systemdefines a plurality of cup locations each with a respective cup holder.The conveyance system operates to sequentially move the plurality of cuplocations through a circuit comprising a plurality of indexed locations.A cup dispensing machine receives a first supply of cups at a firstdispensing assembly. The first dispensing assembly includes a firstselective release device. The first dispensing assembly coincides with afirst indexed location of the plurality of indexed locations. The cupdispensing machine is configured to receive a second supply of cups at asecond dispensing assembly. The second dispensing assembly includes asecond selective release device. The second dispensing assemblycoincides with a second indexed location of the plurality of indexedlocations. The cup dispensing machine is operable to dispense a cup fromthe first supply of cups to a first cup location of the plurality of cuplocations on the conveyance system at the first indexed location. Thecup dispensing machine is operable to dispense a cup from the secondsupply of cups to a second cup location of the plurality of cuplocations on the conveyance system at the second indexed location.

In additional examples of the automated beverage dispensing machine, thefirst dispensing assembly includes a first plurality of selectiverelease devices including the first selective release device. The seconddispensing assembly includes a second plurality of selective releasedevices including the second selective release device. Each of theselective release devices may include a cam body, a cam extending aboutthe cam body, the cam having a cam edge. The cam may further include aleading cam surface and a trailing cam surface. A gear may extend aboutthe cam body. A cup support flap may be connected to the cam body andextend radially away from an axis of the cam body. A beverage dispensingmachine may be configured to dispense a beverage at a beverage dispenselocation of the plurality of indexed locations. A computer may associatean ordered beverage to a cup location of the plurality of cup locationsand maintains a record of a status of the cup location and the positionof the cup location relative to the plurality of indexed locations.

Each dispensing assembly may include a motor and a drive gear and a beltthat operatively extends between the drive gear and the gear about thecam body of each of the selective release devices of a respectivedispensing assembly. Movement of the belt by the drive gearsimultaneously moves each of the cam assemblies by interaction with therespective gears of the cam assemblies. The cup support flap isconstructed of an elastomeric material. The cup support flap isconfigured to deform to receive a supply of cups pushed therethrough toload the dispensing assembly with the first or second supply of cups.The cup dispensing machine is configured to upwardly tilt relative tothe rest of the automated beverage dispensing machine to a loadingconfiguration wherein the dispensing assemblies are accessible toreceive the supply of cups through the dispensing assemblies past theselective release devices. A support chimney extends from each of theselective release devices. The support chimney is configured to receivea stack of cups there of the first supply of cups or the second supplyof cups. Each dispensing assembly is positioned at a different heightabove the respective first and second indexed locations. Each dispensingassembly includes a dispensing chimney extending from the dispensingassembly in a direction of the first and second indexed locations,respectively, wherein the dispensing chimneys end at a same height abovethe respective first and second indexed locations.

An example of a selective release device for dispensing a cup includes acam body. A cam extends about the cam body and radially away from thecam body. The cam includes a cam edge and a leading cam surface and atrailing cam surface. A resiliently deformable cup support flap radiallyextends from the cam body.

In further examples of the selective release device, a gear extendsabout the cam body. The selective release device includes a drive gearand a belt that engages the drive gear and the gear about the cam body.The drive gear moves the belt which in turn moves the cam body. Theleading cam surface is located on a first side of the cam body in anaxial direction and the trailing cam surface is located on a second sideof the cam body in an axial direction. A lower cam surface is oppositethe leading cam surface. The leading cam surface angles upwards in theaxial direction above the lower cam surface from the cam edge. Thetrailing cam surface angles downwards in the axial direction from thelower cam surface. The lower cam surface is horizontal. The cam bodydefines a pocket and the cup support flap is seated within the pocket.The cup support flap and the cam body include axially aligned throughholes. A lower cam surface opposite is opposite the leading cam surfacein an axial direction, the leading cam surface angles upwards in theaxial direction above the lower cam surface from the cam edge, and thecup support flap includes a flap projection that extends radiallyoutward from the cam body. The flap projection includes an upper surfacepositioned below the lower cam surface in the axial direction. The flapprojection includes an outer edge in the shape of an arc. An outer edgeof the cup support flap is complementary with an outer edge of the camto form an outer circumference of the cam assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a beverage dispensingmachine.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the beverage dispensing machine.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the beverage dispensing machine.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2 .

FIG. 5 is a detailed perspective view of the cup dispenser.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5 .

FIG. 7 is a detailed view of an example of a selective release device.

FIG. 8 is a detailed perspective view of a cam assembly.

FIG. 9 depicts a cam assembly relative to cups to be dispensed.

FIG. 10 is a detailed view of a cam assembly without the support flap.

FIG. 11 depicts a process of loading cups into the dispensing assembly.

FIG. 12 depicts an example of a hinge system for the cup dispenser.

FIG. 13 is a system diagram of an example of a beverage dispensingmachine.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE

Examples of automated beverage dispensing machines are provided herein.These disclosed automated beverage dispensing machines include featuresor combinations of features directed to cup dispensing in an automatedbeverage dispensing.

Automated beverage dispensing machine cup dispensers present numerouschallenges. Because an automated beverage dispensing machine requiressupplies of multiple sizes of cups. Mechanisms within the cup dispenserselect a requested cup and operate to dispense the cup. In part due tothese mechanisms, the supplies of cups are held without visual feedbackof the remaining cup supply. Additionally, the size and complexity ofthe cup dispenser presents a challenge to loading a new supply of cups,particularly for workers of lower height or upper body strength. Theautomated beverage dispensing machines and cup dispensers as disclosedherein provide solutions to these challenges.

In examples, a cup dispenser of the beverage dispensing machine providesenhanced user visual confirmation of the remaining supply of cups storedin the beverage dispensing machine. Positioning of these stored cups atthe exterior of the beverage dispensing machine combined withtransparent elements provides visual confirmation of cup supply.Location of the cup storage across the front of the beverage dispensingmachine further places this visual confirmation in convenient locationfor user observation and monitoring. In examples, sensors may bearranged relative to the cup storage for each cup type/size and thesupply monitored whereby an indication of low supply, for exampleillumination of a light or graphical user interface icon, may be made toindicate a low supply of cups, in addition to any enhanced visualconfirmation of supply as noted above.

In examples, the cup dispenser includes features which promote theloading of cups into the dispenser, including tilting of the cupdispenser to facilitate loading and a selective release device whichfacilitates loading of an unturned stack of cups upwards through theselective release device.

In further examples, the cup dispenser is arranged to dispense cups ofdifferent sizes to different locations within the automated beveragedispenser. The automated beverage dispenser may include a carousel thatdefines a plurality of indexed locations and the cup dispenser dispensescups of different sizes into different indexed locations. The automatedbeverage dispenser may further operate to maintain a record of cupsdispensed into particular locations on the carousel.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a beverage dispensingmachine 10 which is configured as a “crew serve” dispensing machine toautomatedly or semi-automatedly dispense beverages consistent with acustomer's order. The beverage dispensing machine 10 is configured toprovide automated cup selection, placement, ice dispensing, beveragedispensing, and staging of customer-ordered beverages in a fast or quickservice restaurant setting. Automation of crew-served beveragefulfillment process as provided with the features of the disclosureherein can improve the speed of service and order completion accuracy.

The beverage dispensing machine 10 is defined by a front 12, a back 14,and sides 16, 18. To facilitate operation in a restaurant configuration,the beverage dispensing machine 10 is both, observable, and configurablefrom the front. That is, the user interface 22, which may include agraphical display 20, the cup dispenser 24, and the cup carousel 26 arepositioned at the front 12 of the beverage dispensing machine 10. Aswill be described in further detail herein, portions of the cup carousel26 and the cup dispenser 24 are set forward of the user interface 22.The cup dispenser 24 further is further observable and/or accessiblefrom the front of the beverage dispensing machine 10 to facilitateobservation of present levels of the cup supplies and loading thereof.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the beverage dispensing machine 10. Thebeverage dispensing machine 10 includes an ice dispenser 28 of which anice dispensing chute 30 is shown. The ice dispenser 28 exemplarilyincludes an ice bin associated with a cold plate, and may furtherinclude an auger or agitator which is operated to dispense a portion ofthe ice from the ice bin out through the ice dispensing chute 30 asdescribed herein. The beverage dispensing machine 10 includes a beveragedispenser 32, a nozzle 34 of which is shown. The beverage dispenserincludes a plurality of fluid control valves which are operated tocontrol the flow of pre-mixed beverages or beverage constituents. Fluidcontrol valves may be operated to selectively dispense concentratedflavoring and a diluent fluid (e.g. still or carbonated water) from thenozzle 34 according to a drink order from a customer.

The cup dispenser 24 is configured to hold at least one if not morestacks of cups 36 in which the beverages are to be dispensed. In theexample shown, the cup dispenser 24 includes four stacks 36 a-36 d ofcups. Each of the stacks 36 a-36 d of cups may exemplarily be adifferent size, configured to hold a different volume of beverage. Thestacks 36 a-36 d of cups may be arranged with one or more stackspositioned behind, or towards the back 14 of the beverage dispensingmachine 10 from other stacks. Alternatively, the stacks 36 a-36 d may bearranged with one or more stacks positioned towards the front 12 of thebeverage dispensing machine or towards the side 16, 18 of the beveragedispensing machine. That is, each of the stacks 36 a-36 d occupies aseparate fixed location relative to the rest of the beverage dispensingmachine. In the example depicted in FIG. 2 , stack 36 a, whichexemplarily includes small (e.g. 12 oz) sized cups, is positionedtowards the front of the beverage dispensing machine and medially, e.g.towards the midline 21 of beverage dispensing machine 10. The stack 36b, which exemplarily includes medium (e.g. 16 oz) sized cups, ispositioned towards the front of the beverage dispensing machine 10 andlaterally, e.g. away from the midline 21 of the beverage dispensingmachine 10. The stack 36 c, which exemplarily includes large (e.g. 21oz) sized cups, is positioned behind stack 36 b, and also laterally ofthe midline 21. The stack 36 d, which exemplarily includes extra-large(e.g. 32 oz) sized cups, is positioned behind stack 36 a and alsomedially towards the midline 21. As seen in FIG. 3 , stack 36 b isfurther positioned towards the back 14 of the beverage dispensingmachine from the stack 36 a and the stack 36 c is positioned towards thefront 12 from stack 36 d and towards the back 14 from stack 36 b. Itwill be recognized that these positions and examples are merelyexemplary and non-limiting as to the order, position, and location ofthe respective cups and sizes of cups and associated cup dispensingassemblies, within the scope of the present disclosure.

The cup carousel 26 further includes a plurality of cup holders 38 whichare configured to receive a cup 36 therein. The cup holders 38 thusdefine the locations of any cups relative to the cup carousel 26. Thecup carousel 26 may further include a conveyor belt 40 to which the cupholders 38 are secured. A shelf 42, for example with a drip tray 44defined therein underlies the cup holders 38 and the cup carousel 26.The shelf 42 and drip tray 44 serves to catch spilled beverage, ice, ordebris so as not to interfere with the operation of the cup carousel 26and the beverage dispensing machine 10. Operation of a motor,exemplarily a servo motor, rotates the conveyor belt 40, along with thecup holders 38 secured thereto about an exterior of the cup carousel 26.The motor rotates the conveyor belt 40 to position the plurality of cupholders 38 at a plurality of successive indexed locations about the cupcarousel 26.

FIGS. 3 and 4 further depict the cup carousel 26. FIG. 3 is a side viewof the beverage dispensing machine 10 and FIG. 4 is a sectional view ofthe beverage dispensing machine 10 taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2 . Thecup carousel 26 exemplarily includes ten cup holders. Each of the cupholders 38 are identified, e.g. cup holder #'s 1-10. As previouslynoted, the cup carousel 26 operates to move the cup holders 38 through asequence of indexed locations. The cup holders 38 are positioned at eachof the indexed locations 48, and which will be further identified asindexed locations 48 a-48 j. The plurality of indexed locations 48 a-48j of the carousel 26 thus defines an endless circuit of indexedlocations 48 a-48 j through which the cup holders 38 are moved. The cupholders 38 may be secured to the conveyor belt 40 with a dovetailconnection, while other types of releasable connections may also beused. The beverage dispensing machine 10 is for example calibrated suchthat the positions each of the cup holders is known, for example byinitially locating cup holders 1-10 respectively at indexed locations 48a-48 j. The conveyor belt 40 may be a silicone or rubber belt or may beformed of a plurality of articulated sections. In examples, flexibilityor articulation in the conveyor belt 40 may provide a degree of lateralflexibility which facilitates conformity of the conveyor belt about thegears at either end of the cup carousel 26.

Indexed locations 48 a-48 d respectively coincide with the stacks 36a-36 d of cups and therefore represent a plurality of cup loadinglocations. That is, a cup 36 dispensed from stack 36 a of cups will dropinto cup holder 38 positioned at indexed location 48 a. A cup 36dispensed from stack 36 b of cups will drop into cup holder 38positioned at indexed location 48 b. A cup 36 dispensed from stack 36 cof cups will drop into cup holder 38 positioned at indexed location 48c. A cup 36 dispensed from stack 26 d of cups will drop into cup holder38 positioned at indexed location 48 d. Indexed location 48 e coincideswith the ice dispensing chute 30 of the ice dispenser 28. Ice dispensedthrough the ice dispensing chute 30 will fall into a cup positioned atindexed location 48 e. Indexed location 48 f coincides with the nozzle34 of the beverage dispenser. A beverage dispensed through the nozzle 34will fall into a cup positioned at indexed location 48 f. Indexedlocations 48 g-48 j respectively represent a plurality of staginglocations of the plurality of indexed locations. Indexed locations 48g-48 i are the indexed locations at which the cups of the dispensedbeverages are held until the cups of the dispensed beverages can beremoved for delivery to the customer.

FIG. 5 is a detailed perspective view of the cup dispenser 24. FIG. 6 isa sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5 . The cup dispenser 24includes a plurality of cup dispensing assemblies 50. Each cupdispensing assembly 50 is exemplarily configured for a specific size ofcup. It will be recognized that a cup dispensing assembly 50 may beoperable to dispense cups within a range of sizes, although in examplesprovided herein disclose features which may adapt a cup dispensingassembly 50 for optimal dispensing of a particularly sized cup for whichthe dispensing assembly 50 is designed. Each dispensing assembly 50includes a selective release device 46 which, as disclosed herein, isadapted to singulate and dispense individual cups as instructed by thesystem. The selective release device 46 is also configured to receive astack of cups from which the selective release device 46 subsequentlydispenses cups.

The dispensing assembly 50 includes a frame 52 which exemplarilyincludes an upper frame 54 and a lower frame 56. The upper frame 54 andthe lower frame 56 each include an annular flange 58, each of whichextend respectively away from the upper frame 52 or the lower frame 54.The annular flanges 58 may respectively define a space for the stack ofcups through the selective release device, and may in examples describedherein respectively connect to support chimneys 128 and dispensechimneys 130. A plurality of cam assemblies 60 are rotatably positionedbetween the upper frame 54 and the lower frame 56. The cam assemblies 60rotate about axles 62 secured between the upper frame 54 and the lowerframe 56. The cam assemblies 60 extend partially interior of the annularflange 58. The annular flange 58 is dimensioned to receive a stack ofcups with a predetermined outer diameter therethrough while the camassemblies 60 engage a lip of the cups as described herein.

FIG. 7 is a detailed view of an example of a selective release device46. The cam assembly 60 includes a cam assembly body 64. The camassembly body 64 includes a cam 66 and a pulley gear 68. The camassembly 60 further includes a cup support flap 100. An electric motor72 provides motive power to the selective release device 46. Theelectric motor 72 is exemplarily controlled by a controller of thebeverage dispensing machine 10, and receives and operates according toone or more electrical signals upon which the motor 72 operates toadvance the cam assemblies 60 as described herein to carry out adispense of a selected cup. The electric motor 72 is connected to adrive gear 74. Rotation sensor 76 is positioned relative to the motor 72to detect for confirmation that the motor 72 has responded to anassociated signal to operate to rotate the motor to dispense a cup fromthe selective release device 46. A belt 78 wraps around the drive gear74 and the pulley gears 68 of each of the cam assemblies 60 of theselective release device 46. One or more rollers 80 may engage the belt78 to facilitate a change of direction of the belt 78 towards the camassemblies 60. The belt 78 operates to distribute the motive power fromthe electric motor 72 to all of the cam assemblies 60 simultaneously.The belt 78 is exemplarily constructed of a rubber, synthetic rubber, orother elastomeric material and may include internally facing teeth (notdepicted) that mesh with teeth of the respective drive gear 74 and thepulley gears 68. The interconnection of the cam assemblies 60 by thebelt 78 and the teeth of the belt 78 engaging the pulley gears 68 helpsto evenly and simultaneously rotate the cam assemblies 60.

A cam assembly 60 is shown in a detailed perspective view in FIG. 8 .FIG. 9 depicts the cam assembly 60 relative to cups 36 to be dispensed.The cam assembly 60 includes a cam assembly body 64, a cam 66 and apulley gear 68. A through hole 82 is configured to accommodate the axle62. As will be described in further detail herein, the cam 66 rotateswith the cam assembly 60 by the belt 78 moving about the pulley gear 68.The cam 66 includes a cam ridge 92 extending outwardly from the cam body64. The cam 66 forms a leading cam edge 84 and a leading cam surface 86.The cam 66 further includes a trailing cam surface 88. The cam assembly60 is configured to rotate in the direction of arrow 90, in which aswill be described in further detail herein. As the cam assembly 60rotates, the leading cam edge 84 engages a cup to be dispensed above thelip 37 of the cup to be dispensed, between respective lips 37 of thefirst two cups in a stack of cups within the dispensing assembly 50. Asthe cam assembly 60 continues to rotate, the leading cam surface 86engages the lip 37 of the second cup 36 while a lower cam surface 94 ofthe cam 66 opposite the leading cam surface 86 engages the lip 37 of thefirst cup 36 which is the cup to be dispensed. The lower cam surface 94is exemplarily horizontal, while the leading cam surface 86 anglesupwards away from the lower cam surface 94. As the cam assembly 60rotates, the distance between the lower cam surface 94 and the leadingcam surface 86 at the point of engagement with the lips 37 of the cups36 increases. Engagement of the cam 66 between the lips 37 of the cups36 forces the cups apart, providing a singulation of the cup to bedispensed from the second cup and the rest of the cups in the stack ofcups.

As the cam assembly 60 further rotates, the lip 37 of the second cup issupported by an upper cam surface 96, while the lip 37 of the cup to bedispensed is engaged by the trailing cam surface 88. The trailing camsurface 88 angles downwardly from the lower cam surface 94. Thisdescending angle of the trailing cam surface 88 further separates thecup 36 to be dispensed from the rest of the cups of the stack, such thatcompletion of a revolution of the cam assembly 60 about the axleseparates the cup 36 from the stack of cups, and the cup 36 is able tofall therefrom by the force of gravity as will be described in furtherdetail herein. It will be recognized that the dispensing assemblies 50as shown and described include one or more of the cam assemblies 60 asshown and described. In the example shown in the Figures, the dispensingassemblies 50 each include four cam assemblies 60 which synchronouslyoperate in the manner described above due to the common operativeengagement with the belt 78 driven by the motor 72.

Looking to FIGS. 8 and 10 , the cam assembly 60 further includes a cupsupport flap 100. The cup support flap 100 is exemplarily formed of anelastomeric material, or other material that is resiliently flexible.The cup support flap 100 includes a body 104 from which a flapprojection 106 extends. A through hole 102 through the body 104 of thecup support flap 100 forms an annulus. The through hole 102 is inalignment with the hole 82 of the cam assembly body 64, both of whichare configured to receive the axle 62 therethrough. The flap projection106 extends radially away from the annulus of the body 104 andexemplarily exhibits a shape of an arc, the arc of the flap projection106 exemplarily matches the radius and arc of the cam 66 of the camassembly 60. At the start of a dispensing operation, the lip 37 of thecup 36 to be dispensed rests on the flap projection 106 of the cupsupport flap 100. The flap projection 106 engages the lip 37 of the cup36 to be dispensed and positions the lip 37 relative to the leading edge84 of the cam 66. The positions the cup 36 to be dispensed in a properrelationship with the cam 66. An upper surface 108 of the flapprojection 106 of the cup support flap 100 may be vertically spaced fromthe leading edge 84 and the lower cam surface 94 by a distance which isadapted to accept the lip 37 of the cup 36 to be dispensed.

FIG. 10 is a detailed view of the cam assembly 60 without the cupsupport flap 100. As can be seen in comparison between FIGS. 8 and 10 ,the cam assembly body 64 defines a pocket 110 and the cup support flap100 is received within the pocket 110. The pocket 110 is exemplarilycircular and is concentric to the cam body 64. The pocket 110 may bedefined by a shoulder 112 that extends radially interior from the cambody 64. A pocket floor 115 extends between cam body 64, and exemplarilyfrom the shoulder 112, to the hole 82. The annular body 104 of the cupsupport flap fits interior of the shoulder 112 within the pocket 110 andrests on the pocket floor 115. The cam body 64 includes a radial cut out114 through which the flap projection 106 of the cup support flap 100extends. The flap projection 106 is supported by a shelf 116 whichextends radially outward from the pocket 110, and may be co-planar withthe pocket floor 115. However, it is noted that as described herein,examples of the shelf 116 radially terminate at a distance interior ofthe radially external extent of the cam 66 and the flap projection 106.

FIGS. 11A-D depict a process of loading cups into the dispensingassembly 50 as is described in further detail herein. FIG. 11A providesa sectional view of a cup 36 being loaded into a dispensing assembly 50,while FIGS. 11B-D3 are detailed insets of the portion of FIG. 11Adenoted with line A-A, and focused about the cam assembly 60 that depictvarious operational stages while the cup 36 is loaded into thedispensing assembly 50. While a single cup 36 is depicted in FIGS.11A-D, it will be recognized that this process is reflective of anexample of a dispensing assembly 50 in which the stacks of cups 36 areheld in the upright or dispense orientation and the dispensing assembly50 is loadable from the bottom, for example in the direction of arrow118 in FIG. 11A.

In FIG. 11B, the cup 36 has been moved in the direction of arrow 118until the lip 37 of the cup 36 hits an underside 120 of the flapprojection 106. It will be recognized that at this point of engagementbetween the lip 37 and the underside 120 of the flap projection 106,that the lip 37 is in a same general plane as the shelf 116. That is,the shelf 116 is radially exterior from the lip 37. As the cup 36 isfurther moved in the direction of the arrow 118, engagement of the lip37 with the underside 120 of the flap projection 106, places a forceupon the flap projection 106. The flap projection 106, being constructedof an elastomeric or otherwise resiliently deformable material, deformsunder this force, as shown in FIG. 11C. The deformation of the flapprojection 106 exhibits in the flap projection deforming upwards in thedirection of arrow 118. In an example, the pocket 110 may be constructedand/or dimensioned with a tolerance which enables the flap projection106 or the cup support flap 100 to move in the direction of arrow 118.The flap projection 106 places a resistive force against the lip 37 ofthe cup 36, however under further force in the direction of arrow 118.The flap projection 106 is overcome and the lip 37 moves above the flapprojection 106, the lip 37 of the cup 36 now rests on the upper surface108 of the flap projection 106 and the cup 36 is retained within thedispensing assembly 50 as the next cup to be dispensed therefrom asdepicted in FIG. 11D. It will be recognized that to load the dispensingassembly 50 with more cups 36 the same process is repeated. It isfurther recognized that a plurality of cups forming a cup stack may allbe moved in the direction of arrow 118 at the same time to load thedispensing assembly with an entire stack of cups in a single operativeeffort.

Reference is made back to FIG. 3 as well as to FIG. 12 in the context ofthe disclosure above with respect to FIG. 11 . To load the dispensingassemblies 50 of the cup dispenser 24 from the bottom as described withrespect to FIG. 11 , the cup dispenser 24 is pivotable to a loadingposition shown in phantom lines and reference 124 in FIG. 3 and as thecup dispenser 24 is shown in FIG. 12 . In an example, the cup dispenser24 is rotated about an angle 122 which may be between 10 degrees and 30degrees, but in other examples, may be between 20 degrees and 25degrees. A still further example may be 22 degrees, while other examplesare outside of the 10-30 degree range. To achieve the movement of thecup dispenser 24 about this angle, the cup dispenser 24 may be connectedto the beverage dispensing machine 10 by a hinge 126. Furthermore, a gasspring 132 is secured between a frame 134 of the beverage dispensingmachine 10 and the cup dispenser 24. The gas spring 132 is biased tosupport at least a portion of the weight of the cup dispenser 24 when itis rotated about the hinge 126 to the cup loading position asexemplarily shown in FIG. 12 . This maintains the cup dispenser 24 inthe cup loading position, for example so that a worker can use two handsto insert the stacks of cups into the dispensing assemblies 50. Othertypes of biasing devices may be used to support the cup dispenser 24 inthe cup loading position. It will be recognized that when the cupdispenser 24 is moved back to the dispensing or operational position,the biasing force of the gas spring 132 or other device is overcome, andthat the cup dispenser 24 may be latched or otherwise physically securedin the operational position.

Referring back to FIG. 5 , the dispensing assemblies 50 of the cupdispenser 24 include further features to facilitate the dispense of cupswithin the beverage dispensing machine 10. As described with respect toFIG. 11 , a stack of cups 36 may be loaded into a dispensing assembly 50from the bottom past the selective release device 46. Because the stackof cups extends above the selective release device, it has beendiscovered that inclusion of a support chimney 128 that is secured tothe annular flange 58 and extends upwards therefrom helps to maintainthe stack of cups in alignment with the selective release device 46. Thesupport chimney 128 maintains the stack of cups in a verticalorientation. Additionally, it has been found that the operation of theselective release device 46 imparts an oscillating motion on the stackof cups. This oscillating motion may move cups of the stack of cups outof axial alignment with one another. If the stack of cups is out ofaxial alignment, the operation and function of the selective releasedevice may be impaired. The support chimney 128 counteracts this motion,keeping the stack of cups upright within the support chimney 128, thismay maintain the weight of the stack of cups in axially alignment withthe selective release device 46, improving the singulation and dispenseof an individual cup upon operation of the beverage dispensing machine10.

The dispensing assemblies 50 may also include dispense chimneys 130. Thedispense chimneys 130 are connected to the annular flange 58 secured tothe lower frame 56. As previously noted, the beverage dispensing machine10 is configured to dispense beverages into a plurality of sizes of cupsall dispensed from the cup dispenser 24. Improvements to the consistencyof the dispense of multiple cup sizes into the same cup holders 38 maybe achieved with modifications to the cup dispensing assemblies 50dependent upon the size of cup for which the cup dispensing assembly 50is configured. As described above, the selective release device 46engages the lip of a cup to be dispensed. The selective release device46 may therefore be positioned at a vertical distance above the cupcarousel 26 and the cup holders 38 such that the bottoms of each of thecups to be dispensed are the same height from the bottoms of therespective cup holders 38 into which the cups will be dispensed. Thishas been found to provide a consistent interaction between the cup andthe cup holder 38 into which it is dispensed, independent of the actualsize of the cups dispensed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5 , the verticalposition of the selective release device 46 may be defined dependentupon the size of cup to be dispensed from an individual cup dispensingassembly 50. Additionally, with one or more of the selective releasedevices 46 positioned at different vertical positions, in some examplesthis may enable closer spacing of the selective release devices 46 asdemonstrated by center point to center point distances between theselective release devices 46. This may result in a reduction in thefootprint area of the cup dispenser 24.

The dispense chimney 130 is connected to the lower frame 56 at theannular flange 58. Once a cup is singulated and dispensed from theselective release device 46, the cup falls through the dispense chimney130. Given the differences in the height position of the selectiverelease devices 46 as described above, the dispense chimneys 130 mayexemplarily extend from each of the selective release devices to thenominal positions of the bottom of the cups, which may be even acrossall cup dispensing assemblies 50 due to the positioning of the selectiverelease devices 46. However, in other examples, the dispense chimneys130 may extend for another distance as well from the selective releasedevices.

The dispense chimneys 130 provide two functions which may improvefunctioning of the cup dispenser. First, the dispense chimneys 130 helpto axially align the dispensed cup with the cup holder 38 at theassociated indexed location 48 as the cup falls from the selectiverelease device 46 to the cup holder 38. As noted above, the selectiverelease device 46 may impart an oscillating motion on the cups, whichmay extend to the dispensed cup. The dispense chimney 130 thus keeps thecup falling in a straight path. Additionally, as the cup falls withinthe dispense chimney 130, the dispense chimney 130 slows the flow of airaround the falling cup, which in turn slows the cup as it falls into thecup holder. By slowing the cup as it falls into the cup holder, theforce of the impact of the cup against the bottom of the cup holder isreduced causing a softer landing of the cup within the cup holder. Thissofter landing reduces instances of the cup bouncing out of the cupholder or otherwise moving to an unintended or misaligned positionwithin the cup holder. In a still further example, the cup holder 38 maybe fitted with a rubber, elastomeric, or other cushioned or deformablematerial in the bottom, which may further absorb the force of the cupfalling into the cup holder, improving retention of the cup within thecup holder.

FIG. 13 is a system diagram of a beverage dispensing machine 10 as hasbeen described herein. The beverage dispensing machine 10 includes acomputer 150 which receives inputs from components depicted in FIG. 13and as previously described above. In response to the inputs, thecomputer 150 produces outputs and control signals to the componentsdepicted therein such as to carry out the functions of the beveragedispensing machine 10 as described herein. The computer 150 isexemplarily a single board computer (SBC) which includes amicroprocessor and associated computing components for e.g. powermanagement, communication, and/or memory. The computer 150 executescomputer readable code stored in a non-transient computer readablemedium, causing the computer 150 to carry out the functions as describedherein.

The computer 150 is configured to receive user inputs, including, butnot limited to various orders of beverages to be dispensed. The orderexemplarily includes both a beverage size (e.g. volume) and a type (e.g.premixed beverage or selection of flavoring and diluent). The beveragedispensing machine 10 may operate to receive an order input through auser interface 22 presented on a graphical display 20. The computer 150may be communicatively connected to the graphical display 20 to providethe graphical display 20 with instructions to operate to visuallypresent the user interface 22 thereon. The graphical display 20 mayfurther be a touch-sensitive graphical display operable to receive oneor more user inputs of the beverage order and communicate those userinputs to the computer 150. In a still further example, the computer 150is communicatively connected to a point of sale (POS) system 152 intowhich customer orders are received and processed for fulfillment. Arestaurant may include communication kiosks operable by either acustomer or by a restaurant employee to enter the customer order intothe POS system. In still further examples, the POS system may operate toreceive customer orders placed through an online order system. Whileexamples of such communication is provided in the present disclosure,including, but not limited to that provided in U.S. Pat. No. 10,689,240and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020/0273283, it will berecognized that other manners of communication of customer beverageorders into the beverage dispensing machine may be used. Once suchorders are received by the POS system 152, the orders are communicatedto the computer 150 and the beverage dispensing machine 10 may operateas disclosed to automatedly fulfill the received customer orders.

As previously described, the beverage dispensing machine 10 operates toprovide a series of indexed locations 48 a-j and operates to advance thecup holders through this plurality of indexed locations to automate thebeverage dispensing process. The computer 150 receives a signal from asensor 154 indicating that the cup holder at the last staging location(e.g. 48 j) of the plurality of indexed locations is clear of a cup. Thebeverage dispensing machine 10 is then ready to dispense a cup for asubsequent beverage order into this cup holder. The computer 150provides an instruction to the motor 158 to advance the carousel 26 oneincrement to move each of the cup holders 38 from the indexed locationin which the cup holder is currently located to a next subsequentindexed location of the plurality of indexed locations 48 a-j. Thecomputer 150 maintains a record, at a memory at a computer readablemedium, which exemplarily includes the location of each identified cupholder, the current indexed location of each cup holder, and a status ofeach cup holder. The status of each cup holder may include if a cup islocated therein, a cup size located therein, an ordered beverage to bedispensed or an identification of the dispensed beverage in the cup.

As previously described, the cup dispenser 24 may operate to dispenseeach of a plurality of differently sized cups at each of a plurality ofcup dispensing locations. Continuing the example, if the customer orderspecifies a “small” cup size, exemplarily associated with indexedlocation 48 a, then the cup dispenser 24 is operated by a control signalfrom the computer 150 to dispense a single small cup into the cup holder(eg. cup holder #1) located at the first indexed location 48 a. Thecomputer 150 updates the associated record accordingly to note that anempty small cup is now in cup holder #1 which is at indexed location 48a. If the customer order instead specifies another size of cup, then thecup dispenser 24 is operated to not release a cup until the cup holder#1 reaches the indexed location (e.g. 48 a-d) associated with theselective release device for the specified cup size. The computer 150updates the records for each of the cup holders/cup locations with eachoperation to advance the plurality of cup holders/cup locations to thesubsequent indexed locations.

The motor 158 is operated to advance the plurality of cup holders/cuplocations through the subsequent indexed locations. When cup holder #1,containing a cup therein, is advanced to the ice dispense location (e.g.indexed location 48 e), the computer 150, noting that the customer orderassociated with cup holder/cup location #1 is a “small” size (e.g.volume) beverage that requires ice, provides instructionalcommunications to the ice dispenser 28 to dispense a “small” sizequantity of ice. The computer 150 updates the record for cup holder #1to reflect a small cup filled with ice at indexed location 48 e.

The motor 158 is next operated by the computer 150 to advance theplurality of cup holders/cup locations to the subsequent indexedlocation (e.g. cup holder #1 at indexed location 48 e is moved toindexed location 48 f) which is the beverage dispense location,associated with the beverage dispenser 32. The computer 150, noting thatthe customer order associated with cup holder #1 is a “small” size colabeverage, provides instructional communications to the beveragedispenser 32 to operate the associated valves to dispense a colabeverage in the volume associated with a “small” size. The computer 150updates the record for cup holder/cup location #1 to reflect a small cupfilled with ice and cola at indexed location 48 f.

The motor 158 is next operated by the computer 150 to advance theplurality of cup holders/cup locations to the subsequent indexedlocation (e.g. cup holder/cup location #1 to indexed location 48 g)which is the first staging location. While at any one of the pluralityof staging locations, the dispensed beverage may be removed for deliveryto the customer. However, the plurality of staging locations, providethe ability to aggregate dispensed beverages into a single customerorder and removal from the beverage dispensing machine at one time (e.g.in quick succession of each other). As the beverage dispensing machine10 operates to automatedly dispense further customer-ordered beverages,the motor 158 is operated by the computer 150 to advance the pluralityof cup holders/cup locations to the subsequent indexed location (e.g.cup holder #1 to indexed location 48 h, then 48 i, then 48 j). As notedabove, if the cup at cup holder #1 is not removed by the time that cupholder #1 reaches indexed location 48 j, then the sensor 154 willprovide a signal to the computer 150 to hold on any further operationsto the motor 158, advancing the cup holders/cup locations to anysubsequent indexed locations until cup holder #1 is clear and ready toreceive a new cup for a subsequent customer order.

Citations to a number of references are made herein. The citedreferences are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. Inthe event that there is an inconsistency between a definition of a termin the specification as compared to a definition of the term in a citedreference, the term should be interpreted based on the definition in thespecification. It is recognized that the examples provided herein aswell as in the references incorporated by reference are examples of thedisclosure and that still further combinations of the features of theseindividual disclosures are recognized to be made and are considered tobe within the scope of the present disclosure.

In the above description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clarity, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to beinferred therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because suchterms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadlyconstrued. The different systems and method steps described herein maybe used alone or in combination with other systems and methods. It is tobe expected that various equivalents, alternatives and modifications arepossible within the scope of the appended claims.

The functional block diagrams, operational sequences, and flow diagramsprovided in the Figures are representative of exemplary architectures,environments, and methodologies for performing novel aspects of thedisclosure. While, for purposes of simplicity of explanation, themethodologies included herein may be in the form of a functionaldiagram, operational sequence, or flow diagram, and may be described asa series of acts, it is to be understood and appreciated that themethodologies are not limited by the order of acts, as some acts may, inaccordance therewith, occur in a different order and/or concurrentlywith other acts from that shown and described herein. For example, thoseskilled in the art will understand and appreciate that a methodology canalternatively be represented as a series of interrelated states orevents, such as in a state diagram. Moreover, not all acts illustratedin a methodology may be required for a novel implementation.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in theart to make and use the invention. The patentable scope of the inventionis defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur tothose skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be withinthe scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do notdiffer from the literal language of the claims, or if they includeequivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from theliteral languages of the claims.

1. An automated beverage dispensing system having a front and a back anda first side opposite a second side, the automated beverage dispensingsystem further comprising: a conveyance system that defines a pluralityof cup locations each with a respective cup holder and operates tosequentially move the plurality of cup locations through a circuitcomprising a plurality of indexed locations; a cup dispensing systemconfigured to receive a first supply of cups at a first dispensingassembly, the first dispensing assembly comprising a first selectiverelease device, the first dispensing assembly coincides with a firstindexed location of the plurality of indexed locations and the cupdispensing system is configured to receive a second supply of cups at asecond dispensing assembly comprising a second selective release device,the second dispensing assembly coincides with a second indexed locationof the plurality of indexed locations, the cup dispensing systemoperable to dispense a cup from the first supply of cups to a first cuplocation of the plurality of cup locations on the conveyance system atthe first indexed location and operable to dispense a cup from thesecond supply of cups to a second cup location of the plurality of cuplocations on the conveyance system at the second indexed location. 2.The automated beverage dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the firstdispensing assembly comprises a first plurality of selective releasedevices including the first selective release device, and the seconddispensing assembly comprises a second plurality of selective releasedevices including the second selective release device.
 3. The automatedbeverage dispensing system of claim 2, wherein each of the selectiverelease devices comprise a cam assembly comprising: a cam body; a camextending about the cam body, the cam comprising a cam edge, a leadingcam surface and a trailing cam surface; a gear about the cam body; and acup support flap connected to the cam body and extending radially awayfrom an axis of the cam body.
 4. The automated beverage dispensingsystem of claim 3, wherein each dispensing assembly comprises a motorand a drive gear, and further comprising a belt operatively extendingbetween the drive gear and the gear about the cam body of each of theselective release devices of a respective dispensing assembly, whereinmovement of the belt by the drive gear simultaneously moves each of thecam assemblies by interaction with the respective gears of the camassemblies.
 5. The automated beverage dispensing system of claim 3,wherein the cup support flap of each of the dispensing assemblies isconstructed of an elastomeric material and is configured to deform toreceive a supply of cups pushed therethrough to load first dispensingassembly with the first supply of cups or the second dispensing assemblywith the second supply of cups.
 6. The automated beverage dispensingsystem of claim 5, wherein the cup dispensing system is configured toupwardly tilt relative to a rest of the automated beverage dispensingsystem to a loading configuration wherein the dispensing assemblies areaccessible to receive the supply of cups through the dispensingassemblies past the selective release devices.
 7. The automated beveragedispensing system of claim 3, further comprising a support chimneyextending from each of the dispense assemblies, wherein the supportchimneys are configured to receive a stack of cups there of the firstsupply of cups or the second supply of cups.
 8. The automated beveragedispensing system of claim 7, wherein each dispensing assembly ispositioned at a different height above the first and second indexedlocations, and each dispensing assembly further comprises a dispensingchimney extending from the dispensing assembly in a direction of thefirst and second indexed locations, respectively, wherein the dispensingchimney of each of the dispensing assemblies end at a same height abovethe respective first and second indexed locations.
 9. The automatedbeverage dispensing system of claim 1, further comprising: a beveragedispensing system configured to dispense a beverage at a beveragedispense location of the plurality of indexed locations; and a computerthat associates an ordered beverage to a cup location of the pluralityof cup locations and maintains a record of a status of the cup locationand a position of the cup location relative to the plurality of indexedlocations.
 10. A selective release device for dispensing a cup, theselective release device comprising a cam assembly, the cam assemblycomprising: a cam body; a cam extending about the cam body and radiallyaway from the cam body, the cam comprising a cam edge and a leading camsurface and a trailing cam surface; and a resiliently deformable cupsupport flap radially extending from the cam body.
 11. The selectiverelease device of claim 10, further comprising: a gear about the cambody; a drive gear; and a belt that engages the drive gear and the gearabout the cam body, wherein the drive gear moves the belt which in turnmoves the cam body.
 12. The selective release device of claim 10,wherein the leading cam surface is located on a first side of the cambody in an axial direction and the trailing cam surface is located on asecond side of the cam body in an axial direction, the second sideopposite the first side.
 13. The selective release device of claim 12further comprising a lower cam surface opposite the leading cam surface,wherein the leading cam surface angles upwards in the axial directionabove the lower cam surface from the cam edge.
 14. The selective releasedevice of claim 13, wherein the trailing cam surface angles downwards inthe axial direction from the lower cam surface.
 15. The selectiverelease device of claim 14, wherein the lower cam surface is horizontal.16. The selective release device of claim 10, wherein the cam bodydefines a pocket, and the cup support flap is seated within the pocket.17. The selective release device of claim 16, wherein the cup supportflap and the cam body comprise axially aligned through holes.
 18. Theselective release device of claim 10, further comprising a lower camsurface opposite the leading cam surface in an axial direction, whereinthe leading cam surface angles upwards in the axial direction above thelower cam surface from the cam edge, and the cup support flap comprisesa flap projection that extends radially outward from the cam body, theflap projection comprising an upper surface positioned below the lowercam surface in the axial direction.
 19. The selective release device ofclaim 18, wherein the flap projection comprises an outer edge in a shapeof an arc.
 20. The selective release device of claim 10, wherein anouter edge of the cup support flap is complementary with an outer edgeof the cam to form an outer circumference of the cam assembly.